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Hall of Merit: 1935 Election Results: The Hall of Merit Goes “Up the Middle” By Selecting Collins and Lloyd!

Second baseman Eddie Collins received the most votes this “year” in his second year of eligibility. The greatest at his position during the teens, “Cocky” had less competition this time since he didn’t have to fight it out with immortals Cobb and Speaker.

Another “monster” returnee from ‘34, Negro League shortstop John Henry Lloyd earned the highest percentage of votes ever for a second place inductee with 91.9%. The greatest shortstop of the 1910s, “Pop” became the sixth Negro Leaguer to be elected so far.

Negro League pitching legend Smokey Joe Williams is poised to be an inductee next year with an extremely strong third pace finish. Other returnees with much support were Cristóbal Torriente, Heinie Groh and Stan Coveleski.

Rounding out the top ten were Jake Beckley, Lip Pike, Max Carey (his first year of eligibility) and Rube Waddell.

Thanks to Don F, Evan Reich and Ron Wargo for their help double-checking the numbers!

Max Carey and Carl Mays are the viable new candidates for the Hall of Merit this “year.” They also will be on the sidelines rooting for two of the carryover studs from the “year” before (Eddie Collins, John Henry Lloyd and Smokey Joe Williams) because they won’t be making it this “year.”

With a record 56 ballots submitted this year, batting legend Ty Cobb easily won the first spot for induction into the Hall of Merit in his first year of eligibility. Competing against the greatest array of first-year talent ever seen, Cobb fought them off as if they were opponents on the field and recorded the highest point total ever (1,334).

Facing a tough battle for the second spot, centerfielder extraordinaire Tris Speaker narrowly beat out Philadelphia A’s great Eddie Collins by a mere 14 points (Negro League star shortstop John Henry Lloyd was not that far off either).

Beside those newbies, Smokey Joe Williams, Cristobal Torriente and Stan Coveleski also had very impressive first-year showings (especially the first two greats).

Of the returnees, Heinie Groh easily beat out the rest and showed that his support from last year wasn’t based on “new-car smell.” :-)